Recommended Food Storage Life

FOOD ITEM

IN REFRIGERATOR (40° F)

IN FREEZER (0° F)

Fresh Meat

Steak, beef

3-5 days

6-12 months

Chop, pork

3-5 days

4-6 months

Chop, lamb

3-5 days

6-9 months

Roast, beef

3-5 days

6-12 months

Roast, lamb

3-5 days

6-9 months

Roast, pork and veal

3-5 days

4-6 months

Variety meats (tongue, Kidney, liver, heart, chitterlings)

1-2 days

3-4 months

Hamburger, Ground & Stew Meats

Hamburger and stew meat

1-2 days

3-4 months

Ground turkey, veal, pork, lamb, and Mixtures of meats

1-2 days

3-4 months

Meat Leftovers

Cooked meat and meat dishes

3-4 days

2-3 months

Gravy and meat broth

1-2 days

2-3 months

Fresh Poultry

Chicken and turkey, whole

1-2 days

1 year

Chicken and turkey, parts

1-2 days

9 months

Giblets

1-2 days

3-4 months

Cooked Poultry, Leftovers

Fried chicken

3-4 days

4 months

Cooked poultry dishes

3-4 days

4-6 months

Pieces, plain

3-4 days

4 months

Pieces covered with broth, gravy

1-2 days

6 months

Chicken nuggets, patties

1-2 days

1-3 months

Fresh Fish

Lean (such as cod)

1-2 days

3-6 months

Fatty (such as blue, perch, salmon)

1-2 days

2-3 months

Hot Dogs, Lunch Meat

Hot dogs, opened package

1 week

--

Hot dogs, unopened package

2 weeks

1-2 months (in freezer wrap)

Lunch meat, opened package

3-5 days

--

Unopened package

2 weeks

1-2 months

Bacon, Sausage

Bacon

7 days

1 month

Sausage, raw, from pork, beef, turkey

1-2 days

1-2 months

Smoked breakfast links, patties

7 days

1-2 months

Hard sausage—pepperoni, jerky sticks

2-3 weeks

1-2 months

Ham, Corned Beef

Corned beef in pouch with pickling juices

5-7 days

1 month (drained, wrapped)

Ham, canned

     label says “Keep Refrigerated”

6-9 months

Don’t freeze

Ham, fully cooked—whole

7 days

1-2 months

Ham, fully cooked—half

3-5 days

1-2 months

Ham, fully cooked—slices

3-4 days

1-2 months

Dairy Products

Milk

5 days past carton date

1 month

Swiss, brick, processed cheese

3-4 weeks

Hard cheese such as cheddar

5 weeks

Processed cheese

4 months

Margarine

4-6 months

12 months

Butter

1-2 weeks

6-9 months

Eggs

Fresh, in shell

3-5 weeks

Do not freeze in shell

Raw yolks, whites

2-4 days

1 year

Whole egg (beat white and yolk together)

5 months

Hard-boiled

1 week

Don’t freeze

Liquid pasteurized eggs or egg substitutes, opened

3 days

Don’t freeze

Unopened

10 days

1 year